I think it's almost impossible for a Roleplayer to completely separate IC and OOC. I'm not saying it's totally impossible. I'm not saying it's never been done. I do it often... but every single time no matter what? No.
There are always times someone does something really mean IC and you just sit back and think... "Huh... you know, that person is kind of... well, a dick." Not all the time. Sometimes you can tell it's COMPLETELY IC... sometimes the player is awesome and they literally TELL you OOC they are just being IC and clear things with you. (That's the best, keeping an OOC dialogue running)
But there are times, and if you think hard about it, trust me, you'll remember those times... when it just feels like someone is being an arse IC and are ALSO being an arse OOC.
Ergo, sometimes you have an IC relationship that doesn't cross ANY kind of boundary... and sometimes you just have one that does. It might not happen a lot for some, it might happen almost never for others, it might NEVER happen to you. There is just no way to tell how things will go down in life, is there? The best anyone can do is prepare themselves as best they can for "potentials."
This is why many claim they keep things COMPLETELY separate. This is a very good thing to do to "prepare" yourself from the inevitability of IC and OOC feelings meshing slightly. This doesn't mean you've completely protected yourself from drama and are now immune to all emotions, however, so always be careful... but it usually helps people feel more secure in their online interactions.
I am an actor, on the stage, in real life... and trust me, when you are really into the part, you have to feel SOME of the emotions you are portraying. Usually it's ok for actors as at the end of show we throw off the character and can become us... but in RP, you are constantly PLAYING that person, day in and day out, and it can be very tricky to claim with 100% certainty you are immune to feeling anything your character might feel.
Here's how I view it all. Dudes and Dudettes, it's ok to feel similar emotions that your character is feeling. The trick is to recognize when it's happening and take certain steps to avoid any serious issues. Is that person really pissing you off even though they've only said IC things to you? Don't RP with them. Walk away. This does NOT, however, mean you start mouthing off to all your friends what a jerk they are (this often happens, and people convince themselves it's completely justified because deep down, we always want reassurance from our friends that we are not... you know... insane). This just means you keep you respectful opinion to yourself and just try to do your own thing.
Feel like you have a crush on a player? First sit back and think "well, what do I know about them?" If you really know NOTHING OOC, you are probably just crushing on the character. If you still think you like them, the person behind the role, then maybe take some steps further. Either talk to them about it, gently, to see if they feel the same (or are... you know, AVAILABLE). If they do, maybe you've just made an important discovery. If they don't, you know clearly that it's rejection time... and it's probably a good idea to get over it and just move on. It helps NO ONE to pursue something like that.
Now, all that being said, I met my fiancée in an online RP community. I think the main difference between us however was that we did not begin flirting and talking IC, but we began our communication OOC. Gradually, it was clear our feelings had nothing to do with our characters, and our characters, frankly, never even really got to the levels of adoration we feel for each other now, or even back then when we were first chatting.
So I suppose to make a long story short (TOO LATE) it's important to separate, yes. It's important to distance yourself, yes... but don't listen to anyone who tells you that you're evil or a drama-llama or a bad roleplayer for slightly meshing some of your OOC feelings into some IC things that happen. The trick is to just be aware that this CAN happen and conduct yourself in a mature and adult fashion.
Just because this is the internet doesn't mean we have to remain uncivilized, after all.
So not funny
There are always times someone does something really mean IC and you just sit back and think... "Huh... you know, that person is kind of... well, a dick." Not all the time. Sometimes you can tell it's COMPLETELY IC... sometimes the player is awesome and they literally TELL you OOC they are just being IC and clear things with you. (That's the best, keeping an OOC dialogue running)
But there are times, and if you think hard about it, trust me, you'll remember those times... when it just feels like someone is being an arse IC and are ALSO being an arse OOC.
Ergo, sometimes you have an IC relationship that doesn't cross ANY kind of boundary... and sometimes you just have one that does. It might not happen a lot for some, it might happen almost never for others, it might NEVER happen to you. There is just no way to tell how things will go down in life, is there? The best anyone can do is prepare themselves as best they can for "potentials."
This is why many claim they keep things COMPLETELY separate. This is a very good thing to do to "prepare" yourself from the inevitability of IC and OOC feelings meshing slightly. This doesn't mean you've completely protected yourself from drama and are now immune to all emotions, however, so always be careful... but it usually helps people feel more secure in their online interactions.
I am an actor, on the stage, in real life... and trust me, when you are really into the part, you have to feel SOME of the emotions you are portraying. Usually it's ok for actors as at the end of show we throw off the character and can become us... but in RP, you are constantly PLAYING that person, day in and day out, and it can be very tricky to claim with 100% certainty you are immune to feeling anything your character might feel.
Here's how I view it all. Dudes and Dudettes, it's ok to feel similar emotions that your character is feeling. The trick is to recognize when it's happening and take certain steps to avoid any serious issues. Is that person really pissing you off even though they've only said IC things to you? Don't RP with them. Walk away. This does NOT, however, mean you start mouthing off to all your friends what a jerk they are (this often happens, and people convince themselves it's completely justified because deep down, we always want reassurance from our friends that we are not... you know... insane). This just means you keep you respectful opinion to yourself and just try to do your own thing.
Feel like you have a crush on a player? First sit back and think "well, what do I know about them?" If you really know NOTHING OOC, you are probably just crushing on the character. If you still think you like them, the person behind the role, then maybe take some steps further. Either talk to them about it, gently, to see if they feel the same (or are... you know, AVAILABLE). If they do, maybe you've just made an important discovery. If they don't, you know clearly that it's rejection time... and it's probably a good idea to get over it and just move on. It helps NO ONE to pursue something like that.
Now, all that being said, I met my fiancée in an online RP community. I think the main difference between us however was that we did not begin flirting and talking IC, but we began our communication OOC. Gradually, it was clear our feelings had nothing to do with our characters, and our characters, frankly, never even really got to the levels of adoration we feel for each other now, or even back then when we were first chatting.
So I suppose to make a long story short (TOO LATE) it's important to separate, yes. It's important to distance yourself, yes... but don't listen to anyone who tells you that you're evil or a drama-llama or a bad roleplayer for slightly meshing some of your OOC feelings into some IC things that happen. The trick is to just be aware that this CAN happen and conduct yourself in a mature and adult fashion.
Just because this is the internet doesn't mean we have to remain uncivilized, after all.
Kashemia Wrote:Aveline Wrote:"Hey sweetness can you pls cure me?"
"You got it sexy. Good job with that WS."
"How long are we going to xp for before you wanna head up to work on your polearm skill?"
Rest of party: /PUKE
*Is so going to start doing that, just to freak out Iroh*
So not funny
![[Image: BF_Sig.jpg]](http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn73/Vahsyl/BF_Sig.jpg)
"While it is always good to believe in oneself, a little help from others can be a great blessing."
